PO Box 2, 115 Youmans Avenue, Washington, NJ 07882 November 2009 (908) 6890762 Vol. XXXVI, Issue 3 www.jcnwj.org MARK YOUR CALENDAR *Sunday, Nov. 1, 9:30 am Sunday School *Monday, Nov. 2, 7:30 pm Board Meeting *Friday, Nov. 6, 7:30 pm Shabbat/Kristallnacht Oneg: Goldner/Post, Margolis, Melon, and Arvesen families *Saturday, Nov. 7, 10:00 am Shabbat Morning Service *Sunday, Nov. 8, 9:30 am Sunday School, (Confirmation class at 10:00 am) (K/1) (Music) *Sunday, Nov. 15, 9:30 am Sunday School and PTO Meeting 10:00 am Sisterhood Meeting 10:45 am Adult Ed. *Friday, Nov. 20, 7:30 pm Shabbat Service Oneg: Bauer, Weinstein, Alper, and Webb families *Sunday, Nov. 22, 9:30 am Sunday School (K/1) (Music) *Sunday, Nov. 29 No Sunday school Rabbi’s Message I sometimes complain that one of the problems of being a congregational rabbi is that it limits my opportunity to see what other congregations do on Shabbat. Whenever I do get a chance to be elsewhere on Shabbat, I always come away with something new – a melody, an interpretation of Torah, a particular meditation, an unusual custom, or just a different way of doing something. So when I headed to Providence to spend Shabbat with my best friend Judy from college, I just knew I would come back with something new. Our friendship has spanned almost 40 years. After we graduated, we both ended up in Cincinnati where her husband Alan and I were studying for the rabbinate. The three of us have been friends for many years; we have spent many shabbatot together but none in a long while. Once a month, while a traditional service is being conducted in the main sanctuary of this large established Conservative congregation, my friend Alan goes downstairs and conducts an informal service called Soulful Shabbat. This is how the synagogue describes it: “Shabbat comes each week to remind us that meaning in our lives lies not in what we accomplish but in being part of the universe. But how can we do this spiritual work? Soulful Shabbat is a Saturday morning worship experience that creates a space for pause and reflection by simplifying and slowing down the traditional Shabbat service. Soulful Shabbat emphasizes silence, quiet melody, meditation, and movement, along with traditional davening and Torah study.” I was filled with anticipation when I walked into the service. We sat in a circle. Three people played drums to accompany our singing. We stretched. We breathed. We chanted. Then I looked up and saw someone enter the room. She looked so familiar, I couldn’t take my eyes off of her. I leaned over to my friend Judy and said, “How do I know that woman?” Judy thought for a minute. “Well,” she said, “Her name is Claudia and she did go to Brown – but that was after you were here.” Then Judy grabbed my arm: “Wait,” she said, “I know – you know her from Cincinnati! You were her Sunday School teacher when you were a rabbinic student and she was in 7 th grade!” It was true. From 1976-77, I had taught 6 th and 7 th grade at Temple Shalom in Cincinnati and Claudia was in my class. I remembered her as an unusually thoughtful and mature student. And after staring at me for a while, that former student of mine figured it out, too. And on this past Shabbat morning, as I sat in this minyan, it happened to be Claudia’s turn to deliver a d’var Torah about Eve and the role of women in Judaism. When she introduced her words, she began by saying: “I was lucky enough to grow up in a Reform congregation where I never knew women couldn’t be rabbis because my teacher was going to be a woman rabbi.” So I did come back with something new, although it wasn’t what I thought it would be. It wasn’t a melody and it wasn’t a clever Midrash. It was a gift that came from an accidental meeting. It was the reward a teacher doesn’t often get to see after her students go off into the world. I was reminded that we don’t often know in the moment how something we do might have an impact on someone else’s life. We just have to live as though what we do matters and let the rest take care of itself. May your new year be filled with serendipity. Rabbi Ellen Lewis December Journal Deadline The deadline for submitting articles, advertisements, and photos to be included in the November Issue is November 19, 2009. Please email articles, ideas, or news items to Journal Editor Abby Bauer.
Transcript
PO Box 2, 115 Youmans Avenue, Washington, NJ 07882 November 2009 (908) 6890762 Vol. XXXVI, Issue 3 www.jcnwj.org
MARK YOUR CALENDAR *Sunday, Nov. 1, 9:30 am Sunday School *Monday, Nov. 2, 7:30 pm Board Meeting *Friday, Nov. 6, 7:30 pm Shabbat/Kristallnacht Oneg: Goldner/Post, Margolis, Melon, and Arvesen families *Saturday, Nov. 7, 10:00 am Shabbat Morning Service *Sunday, Nov. 8, 9:30 am Sunday School, (Confirmation class at 10:00 am) (K/1) (Music) *Sunday, Nov. 15, 9:30 am Sunday School and PTO Meeting 10:00 am Sisterhood Meeting 10:45 am Adult Ed. *Friday, Nov. 20, 7:30 pm Shabbat Service Oneg: Bauer, Weinstein, Alper, and Webb families *Sunday, Nov. 22, 9:30 am Sunday School (K/1) (Music) *Sunday, Nov. 29 No Sunday school
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Rabbi’s Message I sometimes complain that one of the problems of being a congregational rabbi is that it limits my opportunity to see what other congregations do on Shabbat. Whenever I do get a chance to be elsewhere on Shabbat, I always come away with something new – a melody, an interpretation of Torah, a particular meditation, an unusual custom, or just a different way of doing something. So when I headed to Providence to spend Shabbat with my best friend Judy from college, I just knew I would come back with something new. Our friendship has spanned almost 40 years. After we graduated, we both ended up in Cincinnati where her husband Alan and I were studying for the rabbinate. The three of us have been friends for many years; we have spent many shabbatot together but none in a long while. Once a month, while a traditional service is being conducted in the main sanctuary of this large established Conservative congregation, my friend Alan goes downstairs and conducts an informal service called Soulful Shabbat. This is how the synagogue describes it: “Shabbat comes each week to remind us that meaning in our lives lies not in what we accomplish but in being part of the universe. But how can we do this spiritual work? Soulful Shabbat is a Saturday morning worship experience that creates a space for pause and reflection by simplifying and slowing down the traditional Shabbat service. Soulful Shabbat emphasizes silence, quiet melody, meditation, and movement, along with traditional davening and Torah study.” I was filled with anticipation when I walked into the service. We sat in a circle. Three people played drums to accompany our singing. We stretched. We breathed. We chanted. Then I looked up and saw someone enter the room. She looked so familiar, I couldn’t take my eyes off of her. I leaned over to my friend Judy and said, “How do I know that woman?” Judy thought for a minute. “Well,” she said, “Her name is Claudia and she did go to Brown – but that was after you were here.” Then Judy grabbed my arm: “Wait,” she said, “I know – you know her from Cincinnati! You were her Sunday School teacher when you were a rabbinic student and she was in 7th grade!” It was true. From 1976-77, I had taught 6th and 7th grade at Temple Shalom in Cincinnati and Claudia was in my class. I remembered her as an unusually thoughtful and mature student. And after staring at me for a while, that former student of mine figured it out, too. And on this past Shabbat morning, as I sat in this minyan, it happened to be Claudia’s turn to deliver a d’var Torah about Eve and the role of women in Judaism. When she introduced her words, she began by saying: “I was lucky enough to grow up in a Reform congregation where I never knew women couldn’t be rabbis because my teacher was going to be a woman rabbi.” So I did come back with something new, although it wasn’t what I thought it would be. It wasn’t a melody and it wasn’t a clever Midrash. It was a gift that came from an accidental meeting. It was the reward a teacher doesn’t often get to see after her students go off into the world. I was reminded that we don’t often know in the moment how something we do might have an impact on someone else’s life. We just have to live as though what we do matters and let the rest take care of itself. May your new year be filled with serendipity. Rabbi Ellen Lewis
December Journal Deadline The deadline for submitting articles, advertisements, and photos to be included in the November Issue is November 19, 2009. Please email articles, ideas, or news items to Journal Editor Abby Bauer.
President’s Message Fall is upon us again. It is a time for change. It is a time to put our homes in order to prepare for the winter. The High Holidays are over with, and we have made our atonements to be better people this year than last. We have decorated our Sukkah and celebrated in it, and picked it up when the winds decided they didn’t like our positioning of the Sukkah. We have consecrated our new students. Some have built “sukkah hats”. We have danced with the Torah during Simchat Torah. We have donated blood. We have begun a challenge from the President to the Sunday School classes. We have welcomed a new cantor, who has held our first ever Tot Shabbat. As things go in our temple life, some things remain the same and some change. I would like to personally thank each and every one of you who has helped in the center over the last few months. As you can tell, it really does take a little bit of effort from all of us to continue to have this special spiritual home. The amount of work that our teachers, committee chairs, Rabbi, Cantor, Board of Directors and all of the leaders of the congregation often goes unmentioned, but it is always good to hear a kind word or feel a pat on the back. If you have not said anything to the folks that you know who do their all to contribute to the temple, please say something to them the next time you see them. Let them know you appreciate all of their dedicated work. And ask if they could use a little help. If you listened to the Rabbi’s sermon over the holidays, I love it when she mentions all of the jobs that are needed to make our temple function. For those who are having medical issues this month, I wish you all a very speedy recovery and all of the good wishes the temple can send to you. We are all with you. I love the autumn and the changes it brings. I love the colors of the trees here in Warren County. Okay, I don’t love raking leaves, but I love being outdoors, so there are benefits to raking leaves as well. It is time to say good-bye to summer and prepare ourselves for the winter ahead. I am also very proud of the attendance of the Sunday School children at services so far this year. Keep it up and you will win the challenge. Shalom to you all.
Howie
Education/PTO
November is a quiet month for Hebrew School, allowing us time to catch our breath from all of the exciting holidays last month. Confirmation Class meets on November 8th. We have a PTO meeting on November 15th, which is followed by Adult Education. Please join us.
There is no Hebrew School on November 29th for Thanksgiving break.
Marsha Gross and Karen Finkelstein (Education Co-Chairs)
Cantor’s Corner I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone for a first wonderful month at JCNWJ. It was a pleasure to meet so many of you and to pray with you. As a newcomer to the synagogue, I was pleasantly surprised by the warmth and dedication of your community. In October, I led the first ever Tot Shabbat at JCNWJ. We danced, sang, and the Rabbi told us a story. We hope to see you at the next Tot Shabbat on Saturday, December 19th at 9:30 am. I want to tell you of one more exciting project that we will be instituting this year: Rock Shabbat. I’m looking for musicians (who read music) to come together to create a high energy and joyous Evening Service with the Rabbi and me. Additionally, I am looking for singers. Please feel free to contact me by email if you are interested. I look forwardto getting to know allof you this year! B’shir, In song Tifani Coyot
REMINDER from your Treasurer, Paul May
FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NOT MADE
THEIR HIGH HOLY DAY PLEDGE Please take a moment to send in your
pledge card. In this most difficult of times, we are more dependent than
ever on the generosity of our membership. Please help!!!
PHOTO ALBUM
Confirmation Class Celebrates Sukkot! PTO Moms Decorate the Sukkah
Kids Grab Goodies off of Sukkah Walls
Rabbi Shares her Sukkot Knowledge with Hebrew School Student, Kelsey
Children Enjoy Sukkot Fun!
SUKKOT
2009
Jewish LIFE Special Events scheduled in
2009 will feature a brunch with Tracey Fine and Georgie Tarn, authors of Jewish Princess Feasts and Festivals (Sunday, November 15 at 10 a.m.); Martin Fletcher, NBC News Bureau Chief in Tel Aviv (Thursday, November 19 at 7 p.m.); Actors Michael Tucker and Jill Eikenberry, Family Meals (Thursday, December 3 at 7 p.m.); and Peter Yarrow, folk singer (Peter, Paul & Mary) and author of the children's book, Day is Done (Thursday, December 10 at 6:30 p.m. - Chanukah Celebration). These special event programs will be held at the Shimon and Sara Birnbaum JCC, 775 Talamini Road, Bridgewater. Additional special events are scheduled in 2010. Please refer to the Jewish LIFE brochure for details on all Synagogue Courses and Special Events. The Jewish LIFE brochure is posted at www.ssbjcc.org (click on the Jewish LIFE page) and is available at the synagogue office. To register for Courses, please contact the Synagogue offering the course. Registration for Special Events is through the Birnbaum JCC. Please call 908-725-6994 x201 Debbie Golden Marketing & Public Relations Director Shimon and Sara Birnbaum Jewish Community Center 775 Talamini Road Bridgewater, NJ 08807 Phone: 908-725-6994 x210 Fax: 908-725-9753 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.ssbjcc.org
Kristallnacht ‘09 It has become this generation’s responsibility to tell the story. We need your help to do so. November 9 this year marks the 71st anniversary of Kristallnacht, the night of broken glass. Joseph Goebbels, the Nazi Chief of Propaganda used the assassination of Ernst vom Rath as an excuse to organize a program, a carefully orchestrated attack against the Jewish community. This night became known as Kristallnacht – the Night of Broken Glass. Organized mobs in Germany, Austria and the Sudetenland attacked places of Jewish worship, Jewish businesses and homes. They destroyed cemeteries, synagogues and schools. Piles of broken glass and personal possessions filled the streets. Many authorities consider Kristallnacht to have been the official beginning of the Holocaust. We plan to observe Kristallnacht on Friday night Nov. 6. In the past, we have been blessed to have speakers from the community who talked about the impact of the holocaust on their lives and the lives of their families. Some of those speakers have been members of our own congregation. This year, instead of inviting one speaker, we invite any and all of you to write a piece – a paragraph, a page – about how the Holocaust impacted your family either directly or indirectly. We will plan to use your words as part of our service that evening.
Contributions Rita and Marvin Koral ~In honor of their children: Doreen, Rory, Autumn, and Ilissa Webb Dr. Bernard Robins ~In memory of Celia Robins Marci and Gil Braunstein ~In memory of Heather and Hanna Braunstein Laura and Paul Tarlowe ~In memory of Steve Tarlowe June Kapp ~In memory of Sophie Felton
Reaching hundreds of readers each month in Hunterdon, Morris, Somerset, and Warren Counties in New Jersey as well as those residing parts of Eastern Pennsylvania, advertising in the Journal is effective and affordable. Tell your friends and contacts at local businesses whom you patronize about the opportunity to market themselves through sponsoring an advertisement in the online newsletter. For more information on placing an ad see the Journal Advertising Form (on the temple website) or contact Tracey Bauer.
Thanks... Rabbi Lewis would like to thank everyone who helped make these high holy days enjoyable and inspiring: ~Tracey Bauer and Lois Goldberg, co-chairs of the Religious Practices Committee -- able successors to Sharon Herson and Debbi Knobelman -- and their committee for all their effort in assigning honors; ~Student Cantor Tifani Coyot, whose voice elevated our prayers to a higher level and who doesn't mind working with a rabbi who sings into the microphone; ~The ushers who helped things go smoothly; ~All the Torah and Haftarah readers whose participation thrills me every time; ~Paul May for his moving words on our financial needs; ~Our President Howie Hirsch and all the members of the Board; ~And all of you who are part of this wonderful worshipping community.
But when do I bow? And other conundrums of sanctuary behavior… Come join us in the sanctuary for an experience in basic bimah skills! Date: Sunday, November 15, 2009 Time: 10:45 am
KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN FOR OUR UPCOMNG HANUKKAH BAZAAR!!
Hanukkah Store returning to the JCNWJ! Small Judaica gifts, jewelry and toys, cards, chocolate gelt, dreidels, menorahs, candles, wrapping paper and more! Please support our Temple and shop 'til you drop! November and December dates to follow, including special days for the Hebrew School kids to shop for their families. Happy Hanukkah (even though it is not Thanksgiving yet!) Contact Debbie Fesinstine with any questions.
Membership
The Jewish Center of Northwest Jersey welcomes new member Gerri Klein and her daughter, Sabrina Hutt.
JCNWJ Sisterhood Revived We are family…..I got all my sisters and me! JCNWJ Sisterhood is a vibrant group of Temple members who are interested in Jewish life and having fun! Focusing on its members’ interests, the Sisterhood will work together to add new dimensions to our Temple through fundraising, education and social activities. Membership in the sisterhood is open to the entire Temple congregation and time commitment is flexible. Whether you have one hour or 365, you are welcome to join the Temple family in Sisterhood. Meetings will coincide with the PTO and Adult Education schedule, which varies, but is usually once a month. The next Sisterhood meeting is scheduled for Sunday, November 15th at 10:00 am at the Temple. Come catch up with friends, have a nosh and find out about JCNWJ Sisterhood! If you have any questions please contact Rochelle Ostenfeld.See you November 15th!
JOIN US
Saturday Morning Shabbat Service November 7th at 10:00 am
